"Whatacomplimenttous!"saidMissBurton,appealingtotheladies;
　　"heregardsourministrationsasequivalenttodeathbytorture."
　　"Oh,pardonme,Ireferredtothenumberless'separateandinfallibleremedies,'theverythoughtofwhichcurdlesmyblood."
　　"Icannothelpthinkingthatmyfriend'sprospectswouldhavebeenverydismal,"putinStanton;"forwithbrokenlegsandarmsandheadhewouldhavebeenverybadlyfracturedindeedtobeginwith,andthensomeoneofhisfairnursesmighthavebrokenhisheart."
　　"Myfriendprobablythinks,fromadirefulexperience,"saidVanBerg,"thatthiswouldbeworsethanalltheotherfracturesputtogether;andperhapsitwould.Anadditionalcauseforgratitude,MissBurton,thatyou,andnotI,were'athand.'"
　　"MyreasonsforgratitudetoMissBurton,"saidStanton,"donotrestonwhatundoubtedlywouldhavehappenedhadmyfriendattemptedtherescue,butonwhathashappened;andifMr.VanBergwillintroducemeIwillcordiallyexpressmythanks."
　　"Withallmyheart.MissBurton,permitmetopresenttoyouMr.
　　Stanton,whoseonlyfaultisaslightmonomaniaforNewEnglandandherinstitutions."
　　TheladyrecognizedStantonwithherwontedsmilingandpleasantmanner,whichseemedsofrankandopen,butbehindwhichsomepresenteventuallylearnedtherealwomanwashiding,andsaid:
　　"IaminclinedtothinkthatMr.VanBerg'sEnglish,likeHebrew,readsbackwards.IwarnyouMr.Stanton,nottoexpressanyindebtednesstome,orIshallstraightwayexhibitoneoftheYankeetraitswhichyouundoubtedlydetest,andattemptabargain."
　　"AlthoughassuredthatIshallgettheworstofthisbargain,I
　　shallneverthelessheartilythankyouthatyouwerenotonly'athand,'butthatyouactedsopromptlyandcourageouslythatthechildwassaved.WhatpleasurecouldIhavetakenwithmyhorsesiftheirfeethadtrampledthatlittleboy?"
　　"Iseemyopportunity,"repliedMissBurton,withadecisivelittlenod."Yourafternoondrivesmighthavebeenmarredbyunpleasantthoughtsasone'ssleepissometimesdisturbedbybaddreams.YouhavenoideawhatadelightitistotheaverageNewEnglandmind,Mr.Stanton,tosecurethevantagegroundinabargain.Inviewofyourownvoluntaryadmissions,youcanscarcelydootherwisethanletmehavemyownway."
　　WiththeexceptionofthetwoorthreewhohadformedMissBurton'sacquaintanceatdinner,thosewhoatfirsthadgatheredaroundherhadbythistimedwindledaway.IdaMayhewsatnearinanopenwindowoftheparlor,ostensiblyreadinganovel,butinrealityobservantofallthatoccurred.BothsheandVanBerghadbeenamusedbythefactthatStanton,usuallysolanguidandnonchalant,hadbeenforoncethoroughlyaroused.Betweenangerathiscoachmen,alarmforthechild,andinterestinitspreserver,hewasquiteshakenoutofhiswontedequanimity,whichwascomposedequallyofindolentgood-nature,self-complacency,andadispositiontosatirizethebusy,earnestworldaroundhim.ItwasapparentthathewassomewhatnonplussedbyMissBurton'smannerandwords,andthosewhoknewhimwellenjoyedhisperplexity,althoughatalossthemselvestoimaginewhatobjectMissBurtoncouldhaveinview.
　　HalfunconsciouslyVanBergturnedhissmiling,interestedfacetowardsIdaMayhew,whowasregardinghercousinwithasimilarexpression,butthemomentshecaughttheartist'seyesshecoldlydroppedherowntoherbookagain.
　　"Well,MissBurton,"saidStanton,withaslightlyembarrassedlaugh,"IadmitthatIamcornered,soyoucanmakeyourownterms."
　　"Theyshallbegrievous,Iassureyou.Doyouseethatruefulfaceinyourcarriageyonder?"
　　"Thatofmycoachman?Badlucktohisill-omenedvisage!Yes."
　　"Noneedofwishingbadlucktoanypoorcreature——itwillcomeonlytoosoonwithout.Inviewoftheindebtedness——whichyouhavesogracefullyacknowledged——tooneofthattradingandthriftyracethatneverlosesanopportunitytoturn,ifnotapennymoreorlesshonest,why,somethingelse,totheiradvantage,Istipulatethatyougiveyourdependentthereanotherchance.Iheardyoudismisshimfromyourserviceashorttimesince,andheevidentlydoesnotwishtogo.Hisdisconsolatefacetroublesme;sopleasebanishhisdismallooks,andhe'llbemorecarefulhereafter."
　　"Andhaveyouhadtimetoseeandthinkabouthim?"saidStanton,withalittlesurpriseinhistone."Youshallbanishhisdismallooksyourself.Barney,"hecalled,"driveclosetothepiazzahere.Thisladyhasprobablysavedyoufromarrest,andshenowintercedesinyourbehalf.Incompliancewithherrequest,Iwillkeepyouinmyservice,butIwishyoutothankherandnotme."
　　Barneytookoffhishatandejaculated:"Mayyeesshaddernivergrowless,meleddy,an'maythePowersgrantthatyeesbrighteyesmayseenotroubleo'theirown,bainthey'resoquicktoseeapoorman'sbadluck."
　　Thesmilingmannerwithwhichsheacknowledgedhisgoodwishesseemedtowarmthemanallover,andhelookedasiftransformedashedrovebacktohisstand.
　　"Howisthis,MissBurton?"saidStanton."IfeelasifIhadhadthebestofthisbargain."
　　"ThatimpressioniswhollyduetomyYankeeshrewdness;andnow,havinggainedmypoint,"sheadded,withagracefulinclination,"Iwillnotkeepyoufromyourdriveanylonger."
　　"MyconsciencewillnotpermitmetocompletethistransactionuntilIhaveassuredyouthatmyhorsesandcarriageareatyourserviceatanytime."
　　"Becareful;Imaytakeadvantageofyouagain."
　　"Pleasedoso,"repliedStanton,liftinghishat;andthenhewenttohiscarriagemoresurprisedathimselfthanatanythingelsethathadoccurred.MissBurtonreturnedtothedoorwayandquietlyresumedtheconversationthathadbeeninterruptedbytheperilofthechild.
　　VanBergwasabouttofollowhisfriend,butanacquaintancecomingupthesteps,detainedhimafewmoments.
　　"Oh,Harold,come!"criedStanton,impatiently.
　　MissBurtonstartedviolently.Thesentenceuponherlipswasneverfinished,andherfacebecameashenincolor.ShelookedatVanBergwithastrangeexpressionashe,unconsciousofheragitation,answered:
　　"Yes,I'mcoming,"andmovedaway.
　　"MydearMissBurton,"saidtheladywithwhomshewasspeaking,"youareill;youlookreadytofaint.Thisexcitementhasbeenagreaterstrainuponyouthanyouhaverealized."
　　"PerhapsIhadbettergotomyroom,"falteredtheyounglady;andshefledwithaprecipitancythathercompanioncouldnotunderstand.
　　IdaMayhewalsowitnessedthisunexpectedbitofmystery,anditpuzzledhernotalittle.Shehadlefttheparlorandwasstandinginthehall-waywhenhercousin'svoicesummonedhisfriendafterhisfamiliarfashion.WhyshouldthisstrangerlookatMr.VanBergasifthesoundofhisChristiannamewereamortalwound?Orwasthatamerecoincidence——andinreactionfromexcitementandunwontedefforthadshesuddenlytakenill?Forawonder,shethoughtmoreaboutMissBurtonthanherselfthatafternoon.Shehaddecidedfromthefirstthatshedidnotlikethisnew-comer.
　　Thatpointhadbeensettledbythefactthattheartist'sfirstimpressionsconcerningherhadevidentlybeenfavorable,andsherememberedthathisearliestglancesandwordsinregardtoherselfhadbeenanythingbutcomplimentary.
　　ChapterIX.UnexpectedlyThrownTogether.
　　"Isupposeyouaresatisfiedbythistime,Stanton,"beganVanBerg,astheydroveaway,"thatIwasverysafeinofferingyouthatpictureontheconditionsnamed,andthatyouhavenottheghostofachanceofobtainingit."
　　"Nonsense,"repliedStanton."Thepictureispracticallywonalready.
　　IadmitthatMissBurtonisanexceptiontoallherspecies;and,nowthatIhaveseenher,IprovehowlittleIamundertheinfluenceofprejudicebyacknowledgingthefact,andbygivinghercreditforhercourageandagreeablemanners.Buthowabsurdtoimaginethatthisplainlittlestrangercaneverbetomemorethansheisto-day——asummeracquaintanceatasummerresort!Shewillsoondropfromourmemoriesandleavenomoretracethantheserustlingleavesoverheadaftertheyhavefulfilledtheirbriefpurpose."
　　"Here'sasymptomalready,"criedVanBerg."Mymatter-of-factfriendisalreadyinthesubtlecurrent,andunconsciouslydropsintosentiment,andexpresseshimselfinpoetictrope.Iforeseethatthe'rustlingleaves'willendinarustlingwedding-robeandgorgeousapparel;forwhenyoucagethe'brownthrush'youwillhavethebadtastetoinsistonachangeofplumage."
　　"Ibegintounderstandyouatlast,"retortedStanton."Youhavebeensmittenyourself,andthisisyourstrategytoconcealthefact.
　　Thetroubleisthatyouhaveoverdonethematter,andrevealedyourtransfixedheartlongbeforeIshouldhavesuspectedthewound.
　　Hadyounotbettercommenceonthepicturesoon,forthismattermaydisableyouforaseason?"
　　"Iwon'tswearthatIwillnotbecomeyourrival,forourlittleheroineinterestsmehugely.Thereissomethingbackofhersmilingface.Hermannerseemslikecrystalinitsfrankness,andyetI
　　thinkfewinthehousewilleverbecomebetteracquaintedwithherthantheyareto-day."
　　"Ishalltakemorethanalanguidinterestinwatchingyouprogresswiththissmilingsphinx,"saidStanton,"andinthemeantimeshallgloatovermypicture."
　　"Well,Barney,"saidVanBerg,astheydroveuptothestablesontheirreturn,"youdidhaveastreakofgoodluckthisafternoon.
　　Ihopeyouaregratefultotheladywhosecureditforyou."
　　"Faix,sur,an'Iniverseedthelikeso'herafore.Thesmilin'
　　lookshegavemejistwarmedtheverycoreo'meheart,andherswateeyesseemedtosay,'Naryabito'ill-luckwouldyehaveagain,Barney,hadImeway.'What'smore,she'sagoin'tointercadeforthenurse-maid.Theynadn'ttellmethatallthehereticswillstayinpurgatory."
　　"Lookhere,Stanton,wereIatheologianI'dmakeanoteofthat.
　　MissBurtonhasdiscoveredalogicthatroutssuperstition."
　　VanBergquitelongedforthesupperhour,thathemightresumeconversationwiththeinterestingstranger,andhewaspromptlyinhisplaceatthetable.Butshedidnotappear.Theladywithwhomshehadbeenconversing,remarked:
　　"Shewastakensuddenlyill,justasyouandyourfrienddroveawaythisafternoon.LearningfromMr.Burleighthatsheisherealoneandwithoutfriends,IknockedatherdoorbeforeIcamedown,andaskedifIcoulddoanythingforher.Shesaidthatshewouldbebetterinthemorning,andthatallsheneededwasperfectquiet.It'sstrangehowsuddenlyshewastakenill!Sheseemedperfectlywellonemoment,andthenshefledtoherroomasiftheghostwereinpursuit.Isupposeitwasreactionfromexcitement;
　　orshemayhavesomeformofheartdisease."
　　"Areheartdifficultiessoseriousasthatwithladies?"askedVanBergwithasmile.
　　"Ineverhadacutesymptomsofanykind,"theladyreplied."IndeedIthinkIamatriflecoldandmatter-of-factinmydisposition,butIbegantothawsoperceptiblyunderMissBurton'sinfluencethatIbecamequiteinterestedinher.IthinkIdeservesomecreditforsavingthechildalso,foritwasIwhokepthertalkinginthedoorway.Mostpeopleareawearinesstome,andIwassurprisedtofindsomarkedanexception."
　　ItmustnotbesupposedthatVanBerg'sinterestinthenewarrivalhadledhimtoforgetthemotivewhichhadbroughthimtotheLakeHouse.Thiswouldnotbeinaccordancewithhischaracter,andasfaraspossible,hehadbeencloselyobservantofMissMayhewduringthescenesoftheafternoon.Hehadbeenrewardedbydiscovering,forthefirsttime,thatshewasatleastcapableofagoodandgenerousimpulse,forherfacehadbeenexpressiveofgenuineadmirationandgladnesswhenshesawMissBurtonwiththerescuedchildinherarmsafterthecarriagesweptby.Inthisexpressionheobtainedaclearerhintthanhehadeverbeforereceivedofthebeautythatmightbeherconstantpossessioncouldthemeanandmarringtraitsofhercharacterbeexchangedforqualitiesinharmonywithherperfectfeatures.Butwhilethisgleam,thisflashofidealbeautyincreasedhisdesireforsuccessinhisexperiment,theyounglady'sbearingtowardshimwasasdiscouragingasever.IfhehadnotbeenatMissBurton'sside,hebelievedthatshewouldhavecomeforwardandofferedhercongratulationsashadseveralotherladies.Itwouldseemthathervanityhadbeensoseverelywoundedshewouldneverforgivehim,andhedeterminedhewouldnolongermakeamartyrofhimselfbyplayingtheagreeabletoallinthehotelinthehopethat,bypouringsomuchoilonthewaters,evenherasperitymightberemoved.Hehalfbelievedthatsherecognizedhisefforttoformheracquaintance,andfoundamaliciouspleasureinthwartinghim.
　　Therefore,hedecidedtotakehissketch-bookandgooffuponthehillsinthemorning,thusenjoyingalittlerespitefromhisapparentlyphilanthropiclabors.
　　Beforeheleftthebreakfasttablethefollowingday,MissBurtonappeared.Hethoughthedetectedanominousrednessabouthereyes,aswellasthepallorwhichwouldbethenaturalresultofillness;butsheseemedtohaverecoveredherspirits,andtheratherquietandself-absorbedlittlegroupthathadhithertoseriouslydevotedthemselvestosteakandcoffee,speedilybrightenedupunderherpleasantries.IndeedshekeptthemlingeringsolongthattheMayhewsandStantonpassedoutbeforethem,thelattercastingawistfulglanceatthecheerfulparty,forhehadbeenhavingastupidtime.
　　When,muchlaterthanheexpected,hestartedonhisbriefsketchingexcursionhefoundthathismindwaskindledandaglowwithpleasantthoughts,andthatthesummerlandscapehadbeenmadesunnierbythesunnyfacehehadjustleft.
　　Butasheploddedhiswaybacklateintheafternoon,thesunbeams,nolongergenial,becameoppressive,andhewasgladtohailoneofthehotelstagesthatwasreturningfromaneighboringvillage.
　　Thevehiclealreadycontainedtwoadultpassengers.Onewasastout,red-facedwomanwithababyandanindefinitenumberofparcels,andtheotherwas——IdaMayhew,whowasreturningfromabriefshoppingexcursion.
　　AsthelattersawVanBergentershecolored,bitherlip,halffrowned,andlookedsteadfastlyawayfromhim.Thusthestagelumberedonwithitsoddlyassortedinmates,that,althoughbelongingtothesamehumanfamily,seemedtohaveaslittleincommonasifeachhadcomefromadifferentplanet.ThatMissMayhewlookedsoresolutelyawayfromhimwasrathertoVanBerg'sadvantage,foritgavehimachancetocompareherexquisiteprofilewiththeexpanse,slightlydiversified,ofthebroadredfaceopposite.
　　Thestoutwomanheldherbabyasifitwereabundle,andstaredstraightbeforeher.AsfarasVanBergcouldobserve,notatraceofanideaorachangeofexpressionflittedacrossthewideareaofhersultryvisage,andhefoundhimselfspeculatingastowhetherthemindsofthesetwowomendifferedasgreatlyastheiroutwardappearance.Indeedhequestionedwhetheronehadanymoremindthantheother,andwasinclinedtothinkthatdespitetheirwidelyseparatedspheresoflifetheywereequallydwarfed.
　　Whilehewasthusamusinghimselfwiththecontrasts,physicalandmetaphysical,whichthetwopassengersoppositehimpresented,thestoutwomansuddenlylookedoutofthewindowatherside,andthen,inatonethatwouldstartlethequietestnerves,shoutedtothedriver:
　　"Holdon!"
　　MissMayhewhalfrosefromherseatandlookedaroundwithsomethinglikedismay;butassheonlyencounteredVanBerg'sslightlyhumorousexpression,shecoloredmoredeeplythanbefore,andrecalledhereyestothefartherangleofthestagewithafixednessandrigidityasgreatasifithadcontainedtheheadofMedusa.
　　Meantimethedriverdrewuptoasmallcottagebytheroad-side,andscrambleddownfromhisseatthathemightassistthestoutwomanwithheraccumulationofbundles.Shehandedhimoutthebaby,preferringtolookafterthemorepreciousparcelsherself.
　　VanBergpolitelyheldthedooropenforher;butjustasshewassqueezingthroughthestageentrancewithherarmsfullandhadherfootonthelaststep,hercottagedoorflewopenwithsomethingtotheeffectofanexplosion,andoutburstthreeorfourchildrenwithaperfectdinofcriesandshouts.Twovociferousdogsjoinedinthesuddenuproar;thehithertodrowsyhorsesstartedasifabomb-shellhaddroppedundertheirnoses,andspeedilybrokeintoamadgallop,leavingthestoutwomanprostrateuponherbundlesintheroad,andthedriverhelplesslyholdingherbaby.
　　MissMayhew'scoldrigidityvanishedatonce.Indeeddignitywasimpossibleintheswaying,boundingvehicle.Therewasamomentaryefforttoignorehercompanion,andthenterrorovercameallscruples.Turningherwhitefacetowardshim,sheexclaimed:
　　"Arewenotingreatdanger?"
　　"IadmitIwouldratherbeinmychaironMr.Burleigh'spiazza.
　　Withyourpermission,Iwillcometoyourendofthestageandspeaktothehorsesthroughtheopenwindow."
　　"Oh,come——doanythingunderheaventostopthesehorridbeasts."
　　VanBergedgedhiswayupalittlepastMissMayhew,andbeganspeakingtothefrightenedhorsesinfirm,quiettones.Atfirsttheypaidnoheedtohim,andasthestagemadeasuddenanddesperatelurch,theyoungladycommencedtoscream.
　　"Ifyoudothatyouwillinsurethebreakingofbothournecks,"
　　saidVanBerg,sharply."IfyouwillkeepquietIthinkIcanstopthem.See,wehavequiteastretchoflevelroadbeyondus,beforewecometoahill.Givemeachancetoquietthem."
　　Theterror-strickengirlkeptstillforamoment,andthenstartedup,saying"Ishallspringout."
　　"No,MissMayhew,youmustnotdothat,"saidVanBerg,decidedly.
　　"Youmustbegreatlyinjured,andyouwouldwithalmostcertaintybedisfiguredforlifeifyousprangoutuponthestonyroad.Youcouldnothelpfallingonyourface."
　　"Oh,horrible!"sheexclaimed.
　　Atthenextheavylurchofthestageshehalf-roseagaintocarryoutherrashpurpose,buttheartistseizedherhandandheldherinherplace,atthesametimespeakingkindlyandfirmlytothehorses.Theynowbegantoheedhisvoice,andtorecoverfromtheirpanic.
　　"See,MissMayhew,"hesaid,"youhaveonlytocontrolyourselfafewmomentslonger,andourdangerisover."
　　"Oh,dostopthem,quick,"shegasped,clingingtohishandasifhewereheronlyhope,"andI'llneverforgetyourkind——oh,mercifulheaven!"
　　Atthisfavorablemoment,whenthehorseswerefastcomingundercontrol,aspitefulcurcametearingoutafterthem,renewingtheirpanicwithtenfoldintensity.Asthedogbarkedononesidetheysheeredoffontheother,untiltheyplungeddownthesideoftheroad.Thestagewasnearlyoverturned,andthenitstoppedwithasuddenandheavythump.MissMayhewwasprecipitatedintoMr.
　　VanBerg'sarms,andsheclungtohimforamomentinaparoxysmofterror.Hiswitshadnotsofardesertedhimbutthatheperceivedthatthestagehadstruckagainstatree,thatthehorseshadbrokenaway,andthatheandhiscompanionwereperfectlysafe.Ifthewholetruthmustbetold,itcannotbesaidthatheenduredtheyounglady'sembracewithonlycoldandstoicalphilosophy.Hefounditwhollynovelandnotapainfulexperience.Indeedhewasconsciousofatemptationtodelaytheinformationoftheirescape,butasecond'sthoughttaughthimthathemustatonceemployallhistactinthedelicateanddifficulttaskofreconcilingthefrightenedgirltoherselfandherownconduct;otherwiseherpride,andalsohersenseofdelicacy,wouldnowreceiveanewandfardeeperwound,andamorehopelessestrangementfollow.Hethereforepromptlyliftedherup,andplacedherlimpformontheoppositeseat.
　　"Iassureyouwearenowperfectlysafe,MissMayhew,"hesaid;
　　"andletmecongratulateyouthatyourself-controlpreventedyoufromleavingthestage,forifyouhaddonesoyouwouldundoubtedlyhavebeengreatlyinjured."
　　"Where——whereare——thehorses?"shefaltered.
　　"Ireallydonotknow!Theyhavedisappeared.Thestagestruckatree,andthebrutesbrokeaway.Theywillprobablygallophometothealarmandexcitementofeveryoneaboutthehotel.Praycomposeyourself.Thehouseisnotfaraway,andwecansoonreachitifyouarenotverymuchhurt."
　　"Areyousurethedangerisallover?"
　　"Yes;thisisnownottheslightestchanceofatragedy."
　　Theremusthavebeenafainttwinkleinhiseye,forsheexclaimed,passionately:
　　"Thewholethinghasbeenacomedytoyou,andIhalfbelieveyoubroughtitallabouttoannoyme."
　　"Youdomegreatinjustice,MissMayhew,"saidVanBerg,warmly.
　　"Herewearesittinginthishorridoldstagebytheroadside,"
　　sheresumed,intonesofstrongvexation."Wasthereeveranythingmoreabsurdandridiculousthanithasallbeen!Iammortifiedbeyondexpression,andsupposeIshallneverhearthelastofit,"
　　andsheburstintoahystericalpassionoftears.
　　"MissMayhew,"saidVanBerghastily,"youcertainlymustrealizethatwehavepassedthroughverygreatperiltogether,andifyouthinkmecapableofsayingawordaboutthisepisodethatisnottoyourcredit,youwerenevermoremistakeninyourlife."
　　Atthisassuranceshebecamemorecalm.
　　"Iknowyoudislikememostheartily,"VanBergcontinued;"butyouhavelessreasontodosothanyouthink——"
　　"Ihavegoodreasontodislikeyou.Youdespiseme;andnowthatIhavebeensuchacowardyouarecomparingmewithMissBurtonwhoactedsodifferentlyyesterday."